[It's a long way north- about a week or so, considering how much territory Enji has managed to conquer. It's lucky that Izuku doesn't look like much- he blends into crowds so easily. Nobody would ever suspect him of being tied to the Todoroki's unless he said something. It's for the best.
It's another two weeks as he winds Todoroki's mother's clan around his fingers. The new head of the clan willing to listen to him when he means a plea on behalf of Shouto. And he notices when a few of their sons and daughters spare him a glance or two. He's plain, but he's skilled. When it comes to talking, people tend to listen. He's been in a great deal of courts, even before settling in Shouto's. He knows how this game is played.
If he has their attention, he makes a small suggestion. Plants it in their head and has them slowly agreeing to side with Shouto over his tyrant of a father.
It all goes well. That is, until he comes home. It's darker than he'd like, but it was a little safer to get home this way. Hopefully slipping quietly back into the Todoroki household with little fuss.
But a guard sees him- maybe doesn't recognize him, maybe he does. It's dark enough that he could claim either- and there's an arrow pierced through Izuku's right upper arm.
Adrenaline spikes. He doesn't feel the pain. He somehow manages he way to Shouto's room.
Shouto is there. Shouto is safe.
He manages a shaky smile.]
I'm home.
[The adrenaline high wears off. Izuku is left gritting his teeth in pain before sinking to his knees and passing out from the blood loss. The last thing he sees are Shouto's beautiful mismatched eyes.]
[ Time feels like it goes on forever, while Shouto waits.
His father doesn't even notice that Izuku is gone, and he can't say that he's even remotely shocked by this, given how little he pays him any attention. Some of the people who act as his eyes and ears notice, and they harass his son a little. But Shouto stares at them mutely until they leave him be, and then goes to Fuyumi for some kind of council. He appreciates her presence more than anything, and while the kindest thing Todoroki Enji could do for her is ignore her, it makes it easier for his supposed masterpiece to find some peace and quiet while his closest companion is gone.
A month can't pass faster. He misses Izuku, misses his tea and his company and his smile. Misses when he laughs at some stupid, dry thing that Shouto says offhandedly. Misses his clever mind and soft eyes.
But when he made him promise that he would come home - come back to him - this was not what he wanted.
Shouto looks up when the door opens, expecting it to be a servant or his sister, maybe one of his brothers, but his eyes widen and his entire body goes cold when he sees blood - when he sees Izuku's blood, the shaft of the arrow stark where it's struck him. ]
Wh - [ I'm home.
He lunges up as Izuku's legs give out, scrambling along on his feet so that he can catch him before he hits the ground, his heart hammering where it's lodged in his throat. ] Izuku? Izuku!
[ All he can do is call for his sister, desperate in a way he hasn't been in years. They need to move him, they need to find out what's happened, they have to take care of him - Shouto can't lose him, he just can't -
And then he sees the familiar colors of the fletching, and the panic is joined by pure, furious rage. ]
[Izuku has a high pain tolerance. It's not something that's ever come up over the year of serving Shouto. It's not something he advertises either. But the combination of the pain and the blood loss has him out cold, there's only so much a body can take.
At the very least, the arrow through his shoulder is completely through. If they somebody could remove it and cauterize the wound, he wouldn't be losing nearly as much blood.
If he were awake, he could tell Shouto to calm down, think this through. Don't behave recklessly, Shouto. But like this, he can't be the calming, rational voice he usually is.
For now, he's still breathing, even if his heartbeat is weak.]
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THIS IS THE HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY
It's another two weeks as he winds Todoroki's mother's clan around his fingers. The new head of the clan willing to listen to him when he means a plea on behalf of Shouto. And he notices when a few of their sons and daughters spare him a glance or two. He's plain, but he's skilled. When it comes to talking, people tend to listen. He's been in a great deal of courts, even before settling in Shouto's. He knows how this game is played.
If he has their attention, he makes a small suggestion. Plants it in their head and has them slowly agreeing to side with Shouto over his tyrant of a father.
It all goes well. That is, until he comes home. It's darker than he'd like, but it was a little safer to get home this way. Hopefully slipping quietly back into the Todoroki household with little fuss.
But a guard sees him- maybe doesn't recognize him, maybe he does. It's dark enough that he could claim either- and there's an arrow pierced through Izuku's right upper arm.
Adrenaline spikes. He doesn't feel the pain. He somehow manages he way to Shouto's room.
Shouto is there. Shouto is safe.
He manages a shaky smile.]
I'm home.
[The adrenaline high wears off. Izuku is left gritting his teeth in pain before sinking to his knees and passing out from the blood loss. The last thing he sees are Shouto's beautiful mismatched eyes.]
no subject
His father doesn't even notice that Izuku is gone, and he can't say that he's even remotely shocked by this, given how little he pays him any attention. Some of the people who act as his eyes and ears notice, and they harass his son a little. But Shouto stares at them mutely until they leave him be, and then goes to Fuyumi for some kind of council. He appreciates her presence more than anything, and while the kindest thing Todoroki Enji could do for her is ignore her, it makes it easier for his supposed masterpiece to find some peace and quiet while his closest companion is gone.
A month can't pass faster. He misses Izuku, misses his tea and his company and his smile. Misses when he laughs at some stupid, dry thing that Shouto says offhandedly. Misses his clever mind and soft eyes.
But when he made him promise that he would come home - come back to him - this was not what he wanted.
Shouto looks up when the door opens, expecting it to be a servant or his sister, maybe one of his brothers, but his eyes widen and his entire body goes cold when he sees blood - when he sees Izuku's blood, the shaft of the arrow stark where it's struck him. ]
Wh - [ I'm home.
He lunges up as Izuku's legs give out, scrambling along on his feet so that he can catch him before he hits the ground, his heart hammering where it's lodged in his throat. ] Izuku? Izuku!
[ All he can do is call for his sister, desperate in a way he hasn't been in years. They need to move him, they need to find out what's happened, they have to take care of him - Shouto can't lose him, he just can't -
And then he sees the familiar colors of the fletching, and the panic is joined by pure, furious rage. ]
no subject
At the very least, the arrow through his shoulder is completely through. If they somebody could remove it and cauterize the wound, he wouldn't be losing nearly as much blood.
If he were awake, he could tell Shouto to calm down, think this through. Don't behave recklessly, Shouto. But like this, he can't be the calming, rational voice he usually is.
For now, he's still breathing, even if his heartbeat is weak.]